/ ˈtɪkɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
ticket (for / to sth) a printed piece of paper that gives you the right to travel on a particular bus, train, etc. or to go into a theatre, etc. :
a bus / theatre / plane, etc. ticket
free tickets to the show
Tickets are available from the Arts Centre at £2.50.
a ticket office / machine / collector
( figurative )
She hoped that getting this job would finally be her ticket to success .
—see also meal ticket , return ticket , season ticket
2.
a printed piece of paper with a number or numbers on it, that you buy in order to have the chance of winning a prize if the number or numbers are later chosen :
a lottery / raffle ticket
There are three winning tickets.
3.
a label that is attached to sth in a shop / store giving details of its price, size, etc.
4.
an official notice that orders you to pay a fine because you have done sth illegal while driving or parking your car
SYN fine :
a parking / speeding ticket
5.
[ usually sing. ] ( especially NAmE ) a list of candidates that are supported by a particular political party in an election :
She ran for office on the Democratic ticket.
—see also dream ticket
•
IDIOMS
- be tickets
- just the ticket
- that's the ticket
—more at split verb
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
( technical ) to produce and sell tickets for an event, a trip, etc.; to give sb a ticket :
Passengers can now be ticketed electronically.
2.
[ usually passive ] ( especially NAmE ) to give sb an official notice that orders them to pay a fine because they have done sth illegal while driving or parking a car :
Park illegally, and you're likely to be ticketed.
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (in the general senses short written note and a licence or permit ): shortening of obsolete French étiquet , from Old French estiquet(te ), from estiquier to fix, from Middle Dutch steken . Compare with etiquette .